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36 vs. 33 vs. 25: How the Coalition Coalesces
Let's clarify a bit about the Iraq coalition. President Bush last night thanked "the 36 nations who have troops on the ground in Iraq." We count 25 of them (including, um, us) as part of Multinational Force-Iraq, most of whom have a tiny presence "on the ground"; six nations that have a non-MNF-I presence as part of a Nato mission that mostly takes place outside of Iraq; and then brave Fiji, which helps protect the United Nations mission. (Also mostly outside Iraq.)
Multinational Forces-Iraq lists 25 members of the coalition. (We list them after the jump.) Nearly all of them have minuscule numbers of troops devoted to the Iraq mission, for a total of only 11,732 . The most substantial non-U.S. troop contribution, from the UK, pulled back from Basra earlier this month to assume the non-combat "overwatch" role that General Petraeus believes that the U.S. can adopt at some as-yet-undefined point in the (far) future. Others are pulling out: the Danes, proud contributors of 470 troops in Iraq, have said they would withdraw in August, but that seems not to have happened yet. South Korea is expected to get out at the end of the year. Famous ex-members of the Coalition include Singapore, Honduras, the Netherlands, Ukraine and the Philippines, as well as major partners like Spain and Italy.
But wait! Italy and the Netherlands are listed on the State Department's latest weekly Iraq status report (pdf) as being part of the Nato contribution to Iraq. What Nato contribution?
In 2004, Nato agreed to devote resources to helping train Iraqi security forces, mostly outside Iraq. As Nato's website emphasizes, its troop contribution is for "training, equipping and technical assistance -- not combat." Italy and the Netherlands have signed on for that mission, as have Iceland, Slovenia, Turkey and Portugal. (Other Nato countries that are part of MNF-I also assist in the training mission.)
Then there's Fiji, which devotes 150 troops to helping secure the United Nations' assistance mission in Iraq -- a job mostly done from outside of the country, but with a new mandate approved by the Security Council last month, it may soon have a more substantial presence inside Iraq. Go Fijans!
Still no word on the final mystery three.
The Coalition of the Willing:
* Albania * Armenia * Austrailia * Azerbaijan * Bosnia and Herzegovina * Bulgaria * Czech Republic * Denmark * El Salvador * Estonia * Georgia * Japan * Kazakhstan * South Korea * Latvia * Lithuania * Macedonia * Moldova * Mongolia * Poland * Romania * Singapore * Slovakia * Ukraine * United Kingdom
Comments (27)
He's an idiot...what not enough fingers to keep track? purposeful public disinformation...and the majority of the Fox Noise morons will probably just nod their heads...Yup...fightin em over there...they hate us cause of our freedom...as they stand up, we'lll stand down...
When with the 30% that are left, grow a brain or leave the country... its just plain tiresome...
September 14, 2007 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Iceland is pulling its NATO committment out of Iraq, as recently announced by the foreign minister.
He will leave by the end of september. The current contribution by Iceland is one NATO officer in the communication department of the revelopment office in the Green Zone.
September 14, 2007 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
What would be your point in knocking Fiji?
September 14, 2007 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You didn't count "correctly."
South is one and Korea is another one. Then there is Bosnia AND Herzegovina, and of course we count as three: United AND States AND America. Ya gotta use that there voodoo math.
September 14, 2007 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I recall correctly, Costa Rica granted us fly over rights.
September 14, 2007 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bosnia AND Herzegovina, there's one. The United Kingdom is England, Wales, and Scotland, North Ireland being a provice. There you go, parse those two coalition members properly and you have the missing three.
September 14, 2007 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
You forgot Poland.
September 14, 2007 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope the politicians on both sides (Reps and Dems) end up with aneurisms from spinning so much ... while the innocent are dying...
September 14, 2007 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
You forgot to count America three times. And isn't Dick Cheney his own country now?
September 14, 2007 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm almost certain that Freedonia is one of the last three. If I remember correctly, the Prime Minister despises Bush, but likes having him around for the butt of his jokes.
September 14, 2007 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is truly amazing, is our so called press has let this S.O.B get away with such disinformation for so long. Not only Fox, if you can consider Fox part of the press.
September 14, 2007 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great headline. I love it.
September 14, 2007 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is no coalition. There is only the U.S.A. and a token group of other countries. The British, after Blair, finally got smart and have been withdrawing. Bush lied, and soldiers and civilians died.
September 14, 2007 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I doubt other countryies are doing it for free. If you check the pay vouchers, I'm pretty sure we're paying them to be there.
September 14, 2007 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
While it is easy to joke regarding the smaller nations, Fiji has in fact experienced some of the highest levels of combat related mortality and injury in Iraq after the Unites States and Britain.
Outside of the UN activity, Fiji soldiers are actively recruited for private security details that take full advantage of the economic problems many Fijian military persons face in caring for their families. These individuals face the same risks as other in combat areas when protecting their clients and they do so with limited resources, equipment and no options when things go quite bad.
Not really that amusing.
September 14, 2007 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I found this, which drew "from various sources" to ascertain some 25 nations...http://www.usiraqprocon.org/pop/coalitionmembers.html
Please note that Canada and New Zealand contribute one (1) each. Otherwise, the count drops to 23.
September 14, 2007 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The whole damn subject is amusing. While we wail on about Iraq, Iran is next on our plate. Will no one rid us of this turbulent President?
September 14, 2007 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
If W is counting countries "who have troops on the ground in Iraq," maybe he's including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Syria?
September 14, 2007 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a question to pose:
If the war is being run by this "coalition," when does the coalition meet for planning and so forth? And how is voting done? Seems to me the whole word wants us out of Iraq, including large percentages of the countries that have been named.
So, if it's a "coalition," how come bush calls the shots?
I think we need to beat this horse to death. Consider all the logical consequences. And ask about them!
September 14, 2007 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ummm... what about Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria? There's your missing three right there. Certainly we can't exclude their significant contributions to the state of things.
September 14, 2007 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Have you noticed that only due to the break-up of the Soviet Union is the coalition so huge? Think how that break-up has helped the war effort in Iraq!
September 14, 2007 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is he counting the slave laborers?
Do multinational corporations count as their own nation now?
September 14, 2007 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
18 of 25 are former Communist Bloc nations.
(mostly token contributions exchanged for US assets)
The list looks like what you might see if
they had won the Cold War and had invaded Iraq.
September 14, 2007 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually being a foriegn national myself from one of America's partners in the GWOT I have been following this very closely. In addition to the US and UK, there are troops from: Agapeland, Archenland, Belka, Borogravia, Brutopia, Coomacka Island, Cygnar, Dirkastan, Djelibeybi, Eastasia, Elbonia, Erewhon, Eurasia, Furyondy, Genosha, Grinlandia, Halruaa, Islandia, Keoland, Kinakuta
Madripoor, Elvandar, New Crobuzon, Oceania, Palombia, Parador, Patusan, Qumar, Rokugan, Saldaea, San Lorenzo, San Serriffe, Seanchan, Sembia, Shundi, Siak Republic and Slobovia.
September 14, 2007 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just wanted to repeat some information from the previous thread: Denmark had a battalion of ground forces in Iraq (Basra) from the start of the war until Aug. 7 this year. There are still 55 Danes there in the form of a helicopter team who will supply air reconnaissance for the British forces. They will leave at years end. (http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/258348?rss - in Danish)
September 14, 2007 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
If W is counting countries "who have troops on the ground in Iraq," maybe he's including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Syria?
Posted by: DonQ
Date: September 14, 2007 1:53 PM
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It’s “boots” on the ground… BOOTS!
Well, in any case, if they’re not in uniform they don't count as part of the coalition. Right?
Would that make non uniformed combatants foreign terrorist? Are there any other countries in the region that might have non-booted, boots on the ground? Israel?
And if Turkey is NOT included as part of the "coalition", then when they cross their boarder to attack the Kurdish Iraqi citizens / military forces what is their status? Is that helping the sovereignty of Iraq or are they enemy foreign fighters?
Lastly, several months back there was a news article regarding British military folks dressed or disguised in local garb driving around in a car with bomb making material. Should UK be counted for us or agin us? Hmmm… and as I write this the car bombing of the Sunni Shek this week comes to mind. Do you think….
September 14, 2007 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
You need to count "Bosnia and Herzegovina" as 2 and the United Kingdom you have to count the "nations" part of the commonwealth, you know Scotland, North Ireland, Wales, Canada, Australia. I think that makes it thirty something.
September 14, 2007 8:13 PM | Reply | Permalink